Flexible wing sections for a field cultivator

ABSTRACT

An agricultural tillage implement for use in a field. The agricultural tillage implement including a frame section and a plurality of wing sections. The frame section has a pull hitch extending in a travel direction. Each of the plurality of wing sections are coupled to the frame section and/or a wing section. The wing sections each have an articulated portion pivotal about an axis substantially perpendicular to the travel direction.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a non-provisional divisional application based upon and havingpriority from U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No.14/534,770, entitled “FLEXIBLE WING SECTIONS FOR A FIELD CULTIVATOR”,filed Nov. 6, 2014, based upon and having priority from U.S. provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 61/914,601, entitled “FLEXIBLE WING SECTIONSFOR A FIELD CULTIVATOR”, filed Dec. 11, 2013, both of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to agricultural implements, and, moreparticularly, to agricultural tillage implements.

2. Description of the Related Art

Farmers utilize a wide variety of tillage implements to prepare soil forplanting. Some such implements include two or more sections coupledtogether to perform multiple functions as they are pulled through fieldsby a tractor. For example, a field cultivator is capable ofsimultaneously tilling soil and leveling the tilled soil in preparationfor planting. A field cultivator has a frame that carries a number ofcultivator shanks with shovels at their lower ends for tilling the soil.The field cultivator converts compacted soil into a level seedbed with aconsistent depth for providing excellent conditions for planting of acrop. Grass or residual crop material disposed on top of the soil isalso worked into the seedbed so that it does not interfere with aseeding implement subsequently passing through the seedbed.

A field cultivator as described above may also include an optional rearauxiliary implement for finishing the seedbed for seeding. For example,a rear auxiliary implement may include a spike tooth harrow, springtooth harrow, rolling (aka. crumbler) basket, etc., or any combinationthereof. The rolling basket has a reel with a plurality of blades forbreaking clods into smaller sizes and chopping up the debris stillremaining on the top of the soil.

Often field cultivators have a substantial width with multiple sectionsrunning parallel with each other. These wide cultivators can cover aground contour or profile that varies considerably over the cultivatorwidth. It is not unusual for the width of the cultivator tosignificantly exceed the operational length of the cultivator.

What is needed in the art is an easy to use mechanism for following thevarying terrain of a field with an agricultural tillage implement as theimplement traverses a field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a tillage implement with multiple wingsections that independently articulate about axes perpendicular to thedirection of travel of the implement.

The invention in one form is directed to an agricultural tillageimplement for use in a field. The agricultural tillage implementincluding a frame section and a plurality of wing sections. The framesection has a pull hitch extending in a travel direction. Each of theplurality of wing sections are coupled to the frame section and/or awing section. The wing sections each have an articulated portion pivotalabout an axis substantially perpendicular to the travel direction.

The invention in another form is directed to a wing section coupleableto an agricultural tillage implement having a frame section including apull hitch extending in a travel direction. The wing section includes anaft portion, and an articulated fore portion being pivotally coupled tothe aft portion about an axis substantially perpendicular with thetravel direction.

The invention in yet another form is directed to a method of following aground contour with multiple wing sections of an agricultural implement.The method includes the steps of providing a travel direction for theimplement in a field, and pivotally coupling an articulated portion ofeach wing section about an axis to an aft portion of each correspondingwing section. Each axis being substantially perpendicular to the traveldirection.

An advantage of the present invention is that the multiple sections ofthe cultivator can fold for transport, yet each section has a portionthat can move up and down to independently follow the ground terrain.

Another advantage is that the down pressure of the rolling baskets isnot affected by the pivoting of the fore shank portion of each section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention,and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and theinvention will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an agriculturaltillage implement, in the form of a field cultivator of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is the same top perspective view shown in FIG. 1, with the centershank frame folded to a transport position;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the center frame section with thecenter shank frame in the operating position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the rolling basket assembliesused with the tillage implement shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the agricultural tillage implement ofFIGS. 1-4 illustrating an articulated portion of a wing section;

FIG. 6 is another partial side view of the agricultural tillageimplement of FIGS. 1-5 illustrating an articulated portion of a wingsection in another position than that illustrated in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is yet another partial side view of the agricultural tillageimplement of FIGS. 1-6 illustrating parts of two articulated portions ofadjacent wing sections.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplifications set out hereinillustrate some embodiments of the invention and such exemplificationsare not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in anymanner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-3, thereis shown an embodiment of a tillage implement of the present invention.In the illustrated embodiment, the tillage implement is in the form of afield cultivator 10 for tilling and finishing soil prior to seeding. Theinvention title uses the word “flexible” and although a pivoting systemis shown and claimed, other ways of following the ground terrainindependently section-by-section are also contemplated.

Field cultivator 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1 is configured as amulti-section field cultivator, and includes a main frame section 12 anda plurality of wing sections 14, 16 and 18. The left wings sections aredesignated 14A, 16A and 18A, and the right wing sections are designated14B, 16B and 18B. Wing sections 14A and 14B are each inner wingsections, wing sections 16A and 16B are each middle wing sections, andwing sections 18A and 18B are each outer wing sections.

Main frame section 12 is the center section that is directly towed by atraction unit, such as an agricultural tractor (not shown). Main framesection 12 includes a pull hitch tube 20 extending in a travel direction22, and a tool bar 24 which is coupled with and extends transverse topull hitch tube 20. Reinforcing gusset plates 26 may be used tostrengthen the connection between pull hitch tube 20 and tool bar 24.Main frame section 12 generally functions to carry a shank frame 28 fortilling the soil, and a rear auxiliary implement 30 for finishing thesoil. Rear auxiliary implement 30 includes a spring tooth drag 32 and arolling (aka, crumbler) basket assemblies 34 which co-act with eachother to finish the soil.

Shank frame 28 generally functions to carry cultivator shanks 36 withshovels 38 at their lower ends for tilling the soil. Shank frame 28 ispivotally coupled with tool bar 24, preferably at the top of tool bar24, such as with couplings 40. Shank frame 28 is positioned in front ofthe tool bar 24 when in an operating position (FIGS. 1 and 3), and isfoldable up and over the tool bar 24 to a position rearward of tool bar24 when in a transport position (FIGS. 2 and 4). Shank frame 28 includesa pair of longitudinal frame members 42 which are pivotally coupled withtool bar 24 at one end thereof using couplings 40. A plurality of crossframe members 44 are coupled with the longitudinal frame members 42.Each of the cross frame members 44 have a pair of opposite outboard ends46 which extend horizontally past longitudinal frame members 42, then ina downwardly angled direction, whereby the outboard ends 46 arepositioned on opposite lateral sides of the pull hitch tube 20 when inan operating position. The outboard ends 46 of cross frame members 44are coupled with a pair of respective shank sub-frames 48. Shanksub-frames 48 are spaced apart from each other in a direction transverseto pull hitch tube 20 and are positioned on respective opposite lateralsides of pull hitch tube 20 when in an operating position.

A center shank sub-frame 50 is attached to and positioned below pullhitch tube 20. Since shank sub-frames 48 are spaced apart on either sideof pull hitch tube 20, center shank sub-frame 50 functions to till thesoil in the intermediate open space between the two shank sub-frames 48.Center shank sub-frame 50 includes a number of cultivator shanks andcorresponding shovels; three in the illustrated embodiment. Center shanksub-frame 50 is raised up and down with the raising and lowering of rearlift wheels 52 using hydraulic cylinder 54.

Shank frame 28 also includes one or more gauge wheel assemblies 56 whichfunction to set a tillage depth of shank sub-frames 48. In theillustrated embodiment, shank frame 28 includes two gauge wheelassemblies 56 which are respectively coupled with a front of arespective shank sub-frame 48. A hydraulic cylinder 58 is used to foldshank frame 28 from the operating position to the transport position,and vice versa. Hydraulic cylinder 58 may be placed in a “float mode”such that gauge wheel assemblies 56 are operable to float up and down asthey traverse across a field and thereby set the operating depth at thefront edge of shank frame 28.

Shank frame 28 may also include additional support frame members 60 and62 which provide structural rigidity. Support frame members 60 extenddiagonally across the top of shank frame 28, and support frame members62 extend diagonally between the outboard ends 46 of cross frame members44.

A hydraulic cylinder 54 is provided to lift the frame using rear liftwheels 52 to configure cultivator 10 for transport. Hydraulic cylinder58 is provided to fold shank frame 28 up and over tool bar 24 to aninverted position rearward of tool bar 24. Shank sections 66 of the wingsections 14, 16 and 18 are configured to be folded upwards to a positionat or near vertical using hydraulic cylinders 68. Diagonally angled boomarms 72 extend between a forward end of pull hitch tube 20 and arespective tool bar 24 associated with the pair of middle wing sections16A and 16B. Gauge wheel assemblies 56 at the front of center shankframe 28 and gauge wheel assemblies 70 at the front of wing sections 14,16 and 18 are all configured as caster wheels so that they can pivot toa travel direction when field cultivator 10 is moved in travel direction22 when in the folded or transport state.

Now additionally referring to FIG. 4 there is shown an additional viewof a portion of the rear of implement 10, here with rolling basketassemblies 34 with secondary frame 76 coupled to structural elements ofimplement 10. Rolling basket assemblies 34 include at least one rollingbasket 90. In FIG. 1 there is shown a specific rolling basket assembly78 and a rolling basket assembly 80. Here rolling basket assembly 78 hasan effective length 82, which is the total length of the rolling basketswhich make up rolling basket assembly 78. In a similar fashion rollingbasket assembly 80 has an effective length 84. A pressure control system86 is used to alter the pressure applied to rolling basket assemblies 78and 80 proportional to effective lengths 82 and 84 so that asubstantially equal down pressure per linear unit of measure isestablished.

Rolling basket assemblies 34 include a set of rolling baskets 90, asub-frame 92, pivoting arms 94, brackets 96 and actuators 98. Pressurecontrol system 86 provides the selected pressures to actuators 98 toprovide equalized down pressure, as modified by the geographic positiondetermining device 88, for rolling baskets 90 even though rollingbaskets 90 may have differing lengths as 82 and 84.

Now additionally referring to FIGS. 5-7, there is illustrated a wingsection 100, which can be any one of the sections 12, 14, 16 or 18. Eachof sections 12, 14, 16 and 18 can have the inventive construct discussedherein, which is generically referred to hereafter as wing section 100,even frame section 12. Wing section 100 has an articulated portion 102,pivotally coupled to an aft portion 104 about an axis 106. Axis 106 issubstantially perpendicular to travel direction 22, and axis 106 isgenerally parallel to the ground G beneath the particular section. Axis106 on one wing section 100 does not have to be coaxially related to theaxis 106 of another wing section 100.

As can be seen in FIG. 5 ground G is rising in travel direction 22 andgauge wheel 70 follows the ground contour by raising articulated portion102 with aft portion 104 being not yet affected by the ground contourencountered by articulated portion 102. Now looking to FIG. 6 ground Gis not rising in travel direction 22 and gauge wheel 70 follows theground contour by lowering articulated portion 102, as compared to FIG.5, with aft portion 104 being not yet affected by the ground contourencountered by articulated portion 102.

As can be seen in FIG. 7 an adjacent wing section 100′ is shown with anarticulated portion 102′ being raised relative to articulated portion102. Here gauge wheel 70′ is shown following ground G′ to illustrate theindependence of each wing section 102. Since each wing section 100 isalso pivotally connected to adjacent wing sections, axis 106 of eachwing section will generally be parallel with the ground beneath thatparticular wing section, but not necessarily parallel with the axis 106of any other wing section 100. This pivotal coupling between adjacentwing sections 100 allows a side-to-side flexure and the presentinvention allows an additional fore/aft flexure to ensure that the shankengagement with the ground is generally independent of the groundcontour as implement 10 traverses the ground.

Although the illustrated embodiment of the invention shows the rearsection as basically rigid because of the down pressure applied torolling baskets 90, it is also contemplated that the rear section couldalso pivot up and down with a different leveling attachment. This wouldprovide another degree of flex to each wing section.

Articulated portions 102 have an angular limit of movement, butotherwise are free to follow the profile of the terrain encountered bygauge wheel 70. Advantageously, the present invention divides the shankframe into a fore section 102 and an aft section 104 with a pivotbetween them about axis 106. This allows the shank frames to be foldedfor into a narrow profile for transport and provides the pivot featurefor the frames to flex upward and downward for uneven ground terrain.Advantageously the present invention serves to help maintain a generallyuniform shank working depth over uneven ground contours.

While this invention has been described with respect to at least oneembodiment, the present invention can be further modified within thespirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is thereforeintended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the inventionusing its general principles. Further, this application is intended tocover such departures from the present disclosure as come within knownor customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains andwhich fall within the limits of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of following a ground contour withmultiple wing sections of an agricultural tillage implement, the methodcomprising: providing an agricultural tillage implement including aframe section including a pull hitch extending in a travel direction,and a plurality of wing sections, each wing section including anarticulated portion; providing a travel direction for the agriculturaltillage implement in a field; pivotally coupling each wing section to atleast one the frame section and one of the plurality of wing sections;and pivotally coupling each of the plurality of wing sections to atleast one other of the plurality of wing sections by pivotally couplingthe articulated portion of each wing section about an axis to an aftportion of each corresponding wing section, each axis beingsubstantially perpendicular to the travel direction, each axis beinglocated at an aft portion of the articulated portion, allowing for aside-to-side flexure of the plurality of wing sections via independentpivoting of each of the articulated portions of each of the plurality ofwing sections as the plurality of wing sections follow ground contoursin the field.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the axes aregenerally parallel with a ground surface beneath each of the articulatedportions.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein each wing section includes:a lift wheel coupled to each wing section substantially toward a rearportion of the articulated portion of each wing section; and a gaugewheel coupled to a fore portion of each articulated portion.